Firewall protects unit when blaze takes hold next door

One of two flats in a unit in Maude Street in inner Kaiti was extensively damaged by fire yesterday morning with crews from three appliances tackling the blaze. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

Fire extensively damaged one of two flats in a residence in Maude Street off Wainui Road yesterday morning but the solid firewall between the two dwellings did its job, said firefighters.

Fire and Emergency NZ received multiple 111 calls about the blaze at around 9.30am yesterday and sent three appliances.

A dense plume of smoke from the fire was visible from around the city.

“The right hand flat in the block of two was fully involved at the rear when the first crew arrived,” a senior firefighter said.

“We got inside after making a forced entry through the front door, checking first to see if there was anyone home, and managed to cut the fire off from the front of the flat.

“But the fire has caused extensive damage.”

Much of the interior, particularly at the rear, was gutted by fire, the rest extensively damaged by heat and smoke.

Flames got through to destroy the roof at the rear of the flat, and cause some damage to the

rest of it.

The people living in both flats were not home at the time the fire started.

“This incident illustrates the beauty of having properly built firewalls, because apart from some smoke damage, the adjoining flat sustained no fire damage at all,” the senior firefighter said.

The fire crews were able to save some household items, including a TV set, from the flames and heat in the fire-damaged flat.

But most of the contents would have been lost in the blaze, to fire, heat, smoke and water damage.

“The fire appears to have started somewhere at the rear,” the senior firefighter said.

Specialist fire investigator Derek Goodwin was called in to conduct an inquiry.

“We understand there were three people living in the fire-damaged flat, and one person in the other.

“At this stage how the fire got started is undetermined,” Mr Goodwin said.

The cause remained unknown by the time The Herald went to print last night.